• This is just the third time in the Premier League that Liverpool are facing Everton while top of the table at the start of the day – the others were a 5-2 win and a 0-0 draw in 2019-20, with the Reds going on to win the title that season.
• Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 19 Premier League games (W14 D5). On both previous occasions that they’ve gone into an away league game against Everton on a 19+ game unbeaten run, they’ve lost – 0-1 in October 1978 while on a 23-game run and 0-1 in March 1988 when on a 31-game run.

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Season-defining. Is February the month where Liverpool's season unravels or where they cement their lead at the top? The Reds' next five games are:

• Everton v Liverpool - Wednesday 12 February (19:30 GMT)
• Liverpool v Wolves - Sunday 16 February (14:00 GMT)
• Aston Villa v Liverpool - Wednesday 19 February (19:30 GMT)
• Manchester City v Liverpool - Sunday 23 February (16:30 GMT)
• Liverpool v Newcastle - Wednesday 26 February (20:15 GMT)

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

James Sullivan, Portsmouth: Phil, do you think Everton can spring a surprise tomorrow night and beat Liverpool? Wouldn't it be magical if Everton could win the last every Merseyside derby at Goodison Park?

Hi James. Of course they can. Whether they will is another matter because Liverpool have been outstanding in the Premier League this season and are deservedly leaders.

Everton beat Liverpool at Goodison late last season and it will be a special occasion as the last derby at the great old stadium.

And Everton are now in much better shape since David Moyes’ return as manager. It will be a tough assignment, though, but Everton have gained belief from those three successive league wins and must hope confidence is not knocked after going out of the FA Cup to Bournemouth.

Everton are on a bit of a mini-run and, inspired by Beto and Iliman Ndiaye up top, have won their last three Premier League games by an aggregate score of 8-2.

Incredibly, three wins is as many as they’d had in their previous 21 league games, and eight goals are as many as they’d scored in their previous 14.

Manager David Moyes last won four consecutive league games in November 2021 with West Ham, while he last did so as Toffees boss in March 2008.

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Possibly, Kev, but given not one player puts so much as a toe on the badge, I think it is pretty deliberate.

It is very much "a thing" now, more respect that than paying homage.

Cristiano Ronaldo was praised for doing the same thing when he walked into Etihad Stadium ahead of a Manchester derby a few years, while on the opposite end of the scale, Ander Herrera had to deny that he intentionally spat on the City badge back in 2018.

Anyway, I'm not having it. Just walk on the badge, it's really not disrespectful.

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Despite losing 2-0 in the FA Cup against Bournemouth, Everton are looking pretty decent in the league under new boss David Moyes.

They've won each of their past three in the Premier League and in their past two home games raced into 3-0 leads by half-time (v Tottenham and Leicester).

Liverpool, be warned.

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This is the big one.

A rejuvenated Everton hosting a Liverpool team who had their first slip in a long, long time.

And it's the final ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Arne Slot hasn't faced Everton before, with Wednesday's game a rearranged fixture that was supposed to take place in December but was curtailed by Storm Darragh.

The last time these two met was in April, and the Blues overpowered the Reds in a 2-0 win.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Chris, Stourbridge. Morning Phil, We know Ange Postecoglou has been particularly vocal about injuries in the Spurs squad recently but the fact is nearly every side has had serious injuries and players missing all season. There's clearly an issue with the amount of games they are being asked to play so when do you think there will be a proper discussion around this and why don't the media back the players more in this respect? Are journalists happy with the amount they play or just afraid to bite the hand that feeds them?

Good morning, Chris. I am at Manchester City v Real Madrid tonight then the Merseyside Derby tomorrow so you won’t find me complaining about those games.

I think there is a discussion to be had about the amount of games played, but it is the clubs who have agreed to them, new formats, formats being adjusted such as no FA Cup replays. It has led to teams prioritising, as we saw when Arne Slot handed Liverpool’s team sheet in at Plymouth Argyle. They need to have the discussion.

Rodri mentioned the workload shortly before getting injured in September, but the bottom line is this an issue for clubs and authorities rather than the media.

I have a measure of sympathy for Postecoglou as Spurs have had to deal with an horrendous injury list and he has to keep counting on the same group of players for an awful lot of games – although I think he could reflect on bringing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven back too quickly.

Since the start of December, Liverpool and Everton have had a game in hand over everybody else.

On Wednesday we'll finally be back up to schedule. Will Liverpool go three wins clear at the top, or can Everton stretch the gap between them and the bottom three to 12 points?

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Liverpool

That's your lot from the Liverpool boss. We'll hear from his Evertonian counterpart David Moyes later on today, 13:30 GMT to be precise.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot on whether there is a positive in terms of less games for his side now they are out of the FA Cup: "There was a wise man that once said to me, nothing good comes from losing a football game and I completely agree.

"We would definitely have prepared to play six games in 18 days or seven in 21 or eight in 24 because that's the schedule we are in. Now with us losing this game, there is one moment that we have a normal week, but that is definitely not what we wanted when we went to Plymouth.

"It was difficult because the plan was to play with Joe [Gomez] for 60 minutes or longer. The plan was to start Curtis [Jones] but he came on Sunday and said he didn't feel well enough to play so then all of a sudden we missed two important players. I think people know Darwin [Nunez's] situation that he became a dad one or two days before the game and that happened in Spain so he came in a bit later.

"There were some circumstances that weren't perfect when it comes to Plymouth. The idea was to play with an even stronger team but that team still should have been able to win that game and the fact that we didn't and the fact that we didn't against PSV as well also tells us that these players definitely need these games to get the best out of them.

"It is so difficult to get the best out of them if they hardly play any games and that's again why it's disappointing for them."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot on whether the congested fixtures over the next few weeks will define the team's season: "No because this period of five games in 15 days is what we've done for seven months now. Every phase of the season is crucial if you play in the Premier League.

"This is the hardest league to win because there are so many teams that can win this league and there are so many teams that are able to win 10-15 games in a row. You cannot slow down and you cannot have a few games where you aren't on the top of your game because all of a sudden another team will catch you up.

"That is what the Premier League is, that's why it is such an exciting league and such a beautiful league to work in.

"Last season Arsenal only lost two of their last 15 or 17 but still City were able to win the league probably because they won every game. That is the league we are in, so the upcoming five fixtures are important but the nine afterwards are important. But the first 23-24 games have been just as important."

Liverpool

Arne Slot has now finished his news conference but we've got plenty more quotes to bring you from the Liverpool head coach ahead of a crucial Merseyside derby tomorrow.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park: "I think it's an extra reason why the atmosphere will be even better than all the ones before. I haven't been to one before but people tell me at Goodison Park, as at Anfield, it is always a fantastic atmosphere.

"It is probably going to be a fantastic atmosphere and that is never easy to play against because every single time they cross the halfway line or corner kick, whatever happens, the fans will cheer for that and you have to be mentally strong as the away team to resist all of that atmosphere.

"When you have the ball you have to be as calm as you can in this fantastic atmosphere but it is not the first time for these players that they are playing in atmospheres like this so I hope they can focus on what they have to do.

"I assume our players are ready for another battle tomorrow for the simple reason that they have been ready for the whole season and many of them are experienced in this tie."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the impact it will have on the side going out of the FA Cup: "It should have impact because if you are working at a club like this, you should compete for every trophy, we've said this from the start.

"We beat Accrington Stanley but to lose to Plymouth is, of course, not acceptable. As a team and I think our fans are disappointed by that result.

"We have to show a different side of us tomorrow because it was not only the result but the performance was far from what Liverpool standards are as well."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot on the injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez: "Trent has done part of a training session with us yesterday so let's see how he is today. He will train hopefully with us again today and then we will decide if we take him to the game.

"Joe, it's the same leg again where he had the injury last time so we are still assessing that but he will definitely not be available tomorrow. It is a concern [that it is the same leg]."

Liverpool

Arne Slot is in position and starts his news conference by saying that Liverpool will have to "wait and see" if Trent Alexander-Arnold will be fit enough to feature at Goodison Park tomorrow evening.

We're going to be hearing from Liverpool boss Arne Slot very shortly but before we do, take a look at this video of the Real Madrid players walking out to train at the Etihad.

They make sure not to walk on the huge City crest right in the middle of the floor, which has become something of the norm in recent times.

What do you make of that? It's supposed to be a sign or respect but would anyone really be offended if players walked on a crest that is literally on the floor that people could reasonably be expected to walk on?